Since all the RX8 competition is getting some upgrades (horsepower is one area) I was wondering how many of us - 1st gen RX8 owners - would actually buy a 2nd generation RX8 (if of course there is one) and what would mazda have to change to convince us.
For me, even though I love the car as it is now, I would definitely like to see the following:
1. The power output increased to around 280 - 300hp - at least that would keep it on par with G35 coupe, Z350 or a new bmw 335.
2. Same or even slightly lower weight
3. Improved fuel economy
4. Slightly more aggressive look (wider track)
5. Better a/c and heating

If mazda actually delivered all these changes I would be willing to spend more than I did for 1st gen.

 

All except 1 & 3 I could foresee occurring. Out of 1 & 3 I'd deem 3 most likely to occur unless they get some kind of "Get out of jail free" card for emissions I don't see much improvement.

 

I would like my air bags replaced with blow-up dolls.

 

No, my next car will be a turbocharged 3 series.

 

That is exactly what I am thinking about - and European Delivery saves you $4K! Anyway is there anything mazda could do to persuade us to stick with rx8?

 

i would like 1 & 2 obvious that the body will change, the other once won't bother me

 

Seeing as how i have only had my car 1.5 years and am just getting into bigger and better mods, i dont WANT to think about my "next car" but if my financial gain stays like it is now - I would probably be moving to something more expensive/powerful/luxurious.

 

You do realize that the diesel motor is over 100 years old - yet the largest car company in the world still hasn't figured them out.

Turbochargers celebrated their 100th birthday last year, but less then 10% of the cars sold today have one. When they were 50 there were no production cars that offered one.

In just 20 years the average power per cubic inch of a production automotive piston motor nearly doubled.

Mazda the lone producer of rotary car motors has managed to bump power by nearly 50% while increasing mileage about 10% - all while meeting ever tougher emissions. They build as many rotaries in a year as Ford does piston motors in a day.

Looking at the high tempurature of Exhaust Gas, I can't help but to think there is an untapped reserve of power and efficiency left in the Renesis. I'll go even further to speculate there is another 25-30% in torque to be found in the next gen, along with a corresponding jump in fuel efficiency. But I doubt that Mazda will add it in baby steps like everyone else does. In part because I think they'll release a very different configuration - at least in the respect that the Renesis differed from the previous generation of 13B.

I doubt they'll ever catch up to piston motors in overall efficiency. Production volumes are way too low. But today's rotary is already more efficient then Ford's piston engines were at age 65, when they should have been retiring.

It's too bad Felix Wankel didn't invent the thing in the ealy 20th century, becuase i think the rotary would have won the powerplant contest in the early automotive days. OK maybe not since we didn't have the CNC equipment that makes it possible. But you should get the idea by now.

All that said I'll make my prediction that the next gen 13B will have between 280-300 HP naturally aspirated and get about 21 MPG city/26 MPG highway in normal driving conditions.

 

I'll be shocked if there is a second gen. I bet Mazda goes the route of a smaller RWD coupe along the lines of the Kabura with a version of the 2.3L turbo engine in the top end model. I'd like to see Mazda continue with the rotary, and despite their insistance that they're committed to it, I think the rotary and RX-8 die at the end of the current generation's production. I'd love to see the Renesis pop up in a lightweight coupe like the Kabura, something akin to a poor mans Exige. Time will tell, and it'll be interesting to see what direction Mazda goes.

 

For this you are asking for either a 3 rotor or some kind of FI + better MPG? While were at it, lets ask Mazda to sprinkle pixie dust on the car so it can fly? How can you get more power + save fuel economy + save weight? Even if it is possible, I think it would cost an arm & leg more...

2 cents.

 

It's called direct injection. It's possible to have both. There's a paper on it in the SAE thread. the experimental engine showed improvements across the board. I imagine the next RX8 will have a DI rotary which will get us better: emissions, gas mileage, power.

 

I've heard of DI...350z's got 'em...but 300hp from DI? the 350z has 306 but that's not just from DI.

 

-Memory Seats!
-Dual Climate Control
-AWD (yeah, that's probably not gonna happen)
-HP (duh...who wouldn't want more)
-FI

 

+Memory Foam--memory seats!
+Convertible or Targa top model. oooooh.

 

That's the one - roadster version!

Otherwise I'm keeping Zoomy until he (or I) wear out.

Ken

 

I wouldn't be completely shocked if there's no rotary offering in Mazda's lineup by 2009 especially in the US. However, they seem pretty committed to the rotary engine especially in regards to the hydrogen research. Mazda seems to be doing well enough that they can afford to continue experimenting with the rotary in the near future even if they shift a lot of attention to piston engines with their next generation sports car offerings temporarily.

 

Real frickin gauges

 

I don't think it needs 300 hp... 260, 275 is enough because of where the engine sits and the low weight of the car. Our car handles like a dream.... it doesn't need to be a monster, just nimble and quick.

Now if you were talking an RX-7... then you can throw out the big numbers.

michael

 

How much more would you spend? Because what you described would produce a car that is much faster than all of its competition based on power to weight, and win back all the stats jockeys that buy these types of cars. It's not a coincidence that the fastest car on your list is the most expensive, followed by the second most expensive/fastest.

 

Hybrid just like Prius... *gulp*.... *runs away*

 

For its price, I'm very happy with the HP and torque I have now—and I love the 8's agility, nimbleness and lightweight feel. I certainly wouldn't want the car to get any heavier—or cost much more. FI doesn't interest me if it makes the simple Renesis engine complicated.

I'd be happy with a slight improvement in fuel economy (perhaps 2009 engine technology would allow a slight improvement over 2003?)—and a REAL oil pressure gauge.

 

umm so what you are asking is for a FI or a 3 rotary car + better fuel economy? well good luck on that one, because that will not happen. unless mazda decides to go with a lighter car. but that is just my opinion.

 

Probably not 300 from DI alone but you could probably get 10-15% more power which would be 255-265, we'd probably get an honest 24-25 mpg on the highway and a real 20mpg around town, and we'd have lower emissions. That and I think if they put on a higher temp cat, and smoothed out the flow on the exhaust ports you could get some more out of the engine to get you to 275. I'd be happy with that.

 

I don't even care about mpg as long as it doesn't get worse. But with all the competition right now in the 280-300hp range I would love to see RX8 getting into 280 territory - and I mean seriously without restating the hp number 4 times...

 

All mazda would have have todo to get some more power with the same or better MPG would be to turbo or supercharge the car from factory. This would also help lower emissions.